Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: touch, feel, sense of touch, tactile sense, tactility, contact, using one's hands, sensation, sense, suspicion, sneaking suspicion, notion, inkling, hunch, fancy, apprehension, presentiment, premonition, foreboding, love, care, affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, warmness, emotion, sentiment, emotional state, compassion, sympathy, empathy, fellow feeling, understanding, concern, solicitude, solicitousness, tender-heartedness, brotherly love, sensibilities, sensitivities, self-esteem, ego, pride, opinion, belief, view, impression, intuition, instinct, estimation, guess, theory, hypothesis, thought, way of thinking, point of view, atmosphere, ambience, aura, air, mood, climate, character, overtone, undertone, tenor, spirit, quality, flavour, colour, aptitude, knack, flair, bent, talent, gift, skill, art, trick, faculty, ability, propensity, inclination, sensitive, warm, warm-hearted, tender, tender-hearted, caring, soft-hearted, sympathetic, compassionate, empathetic, responsive, receptive, intuitive, thoughtful

Antonyms: bad feeling, acrimony, animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, aversion, bitterness, detestation, disgust, dislike, disrelish, enmity, friction, grievances, grudges, hatred, hostility, loathing, malevolence, malice

Showing 451 to 475 of 562 results

451. Solomon's Adversaries

1 Kings 11:14-25

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... can be seen in Neh. 4:17, where we are again told of the building of Jerusalem’s wall. That is not to say, of course, that many Israelites did not see it as a harsh regime (cf. ch. 12). To them, sēḇel undoubtedly has much more the atmosphere of the Egyptian oppression (cf. Ps. 81:6). 11:30 The new cloak: It comes as no surprise to the reader who has begun to appreciate the artistry of 1 Kgs. 1–11 to discover that cloak, Hb. śalmâ, has almost exactly the same consonants as the name Solomon ...

452. Ben-Hadad Attacks Samaria

1 Kings 20:1-12

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... known only prophetic opposition. Now, at the very point when (we know) the future holds only death and destruction for Ahab’s house (19:15–17), he receives from a prophet, for the first time, good news. The superior Aramean forces will be given into his hand (v. 13). The atmosphere is that of Israel’s past, both in terms of the promise (cf. Judg. 1:2; 4:7; 1 Sam. 23:1–5; 2 Sam. 5:19) and in terms of the tactics (cf. the additional note to v. 14). This is holy war in which God commands the army ...

453. Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab

1 Kings 22:1-28

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... of the LORD still?”, which is ambiguous. It could mean either “Is there no other prophet of the LORD here [whom we may consult]?” (cf. RSV) or “Does no prophet of the LORD remain here [whom we may consult]?” (NIV). The ambiguity is consonant with the atmosphere of the whole narrative. Are the other prophets truly “of the LORD” (as they claim, vv. 6, 11–12, 24) or are they not (as the links between 1 Kgs. 18 and 22 imply)? Is Micaiah a prophet of the LORD, even though he has apparently lied ...

454. The Path of Discipleship

Mark 8:31--9:1

Teach the Text

Grant R. Osborne

... 8). 3. The kingdom is coming soon. The message of 8:38–9:1 deals with the final accounting that every person will have at the eschaton. The theme of 8:38b is the final judgment and of 9:1 the imminent coming of that event. The atmosphere is that of inaugurated eschatology, as the kingdom will be arriving in stages. Every person stands before God and gives account of his or her life, as the Spirit convicts every individual of personal sins. The arrival of the “kingdom in power” also takes place in that ...

455. A Special Child Promised

Luke 1:5-25

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... and the location of Jesus’s childhood in Nazareth. The focus on Mary and her family in these chapters (as opposed to the focus on Joseph in Matt. 1–2) suggests that they may originate in Mary’s own reminiscences. They are full of the atmosphere of traditional Jewish piety and are notable for the sequence of psalm-like declarations by Mary, Zechariah, and Simeon (1:46–55, 68–79; 2:29–32), which, together with the angels’ song in 2:14, locate the events of the Gospel firmly in the trajectory ...

456. Mary’s Song—the Magnificat

Luke 1:46-56, Luke 1:39-45

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... ’s narrative.2Their language and structure reflect those of the Old Testament psalms, with their poetic parallelism, so that their Semitic style stands out within Luke’s generally more Hellenistic writing. The Magnificat in particular breathes the atmosphere of traditional Jewish piety and contains no specifically Christian language. Historical and Cultural Background Mary’s visit to her relative Elizabeth involved a long walk of some seventy miles from Nazareth to somewhere probably in the Jerusalem ...

457. The Baby Messiah Recognized

Luke 2:21-40

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... ministry. But this first summary also serves to prepare us for our one canonical glimpse into those childhood years, in 2:41–51. Theological Insights This scene in the temple plunges us into the world of traditional Jewish piety and also into an atmosphere of prophecy. It is often said that the Jews believed that prophecy had ceased with Malachi, until John the Baptist revived it. But Luke here tells a different story, and modern scholarship agrees that there were strands of prophetic activity that were ...

458. True and False Discipleship

Luke 6:46-49, Luke 6:43-45, Luke 6:37-42

Teach the Text

R.T. France

... liturgical book that guides the service, the priest or pastor will usually be robed, and the look of the sanctuary will likely be more formal. The latter will probably have a printed bulletin or none at all, the pastor (if there is one) probably will wear a suit, and the atmosphere will be far less formal. The start of the service will confirm the differences. The way a church looks and practices worship often confirms its philosophy and sometimes its identity.

459. The Messiah and His Glory

Luke 9:28-36, Luke 9:18-27

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R.T. France

... mention of “glory” in 9:31–32). 9:30 Two men, Moses and Elijah. The reappearance of men from the distant past (both of whom had left this earth in mysterious circumstances [Deut. 34:5–6; 2 Kings 2:11]) adds to the numinous atmosphere. Both were prophets, and both had met God on a mountain. Both were expected in Jewish belief to be part of the eschatological scenario. Their presence confirms Jesus’s status as the Messiah. 9:31 They spoke about his departure. “Departure” (exodos) probably ...

460. Church Divisions and Confusion of Allegiance

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

... his own name to put the absurdity of the situation in perspective. “Surely, you do not think Paul was crucified for you? Or that you were baptized into Paul’s name?” 1:17 Christ did not send me to baptize. Given the competitive atmosphere in Corinth, it is quite possible that various patrons, in whose homes the church met, felt special allegiance to the one who led them to faith in Christ and baptized them. “Their preacher” was better and more significant than other patrons’ preachers. To ...

461. Christian Success and Christlikeness

1 Corinthians 4:1-21

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Preben Vang

... shaping with controlling. Paul uses parental language when speaking of imitation. A good parent approaches a child with love and a gentle spirit, guiding and exemplifying with word and life. Any growth process must make room for mistakes and create an atmosphere that continually makes restoration possible. Grief, pain, sorrow, and confrontation may be involved in the process, but the love and genuine concern of the “parent” must never be put in question. The disciplinarian wants his or her way; the good ...

462. Worship and Humility

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

Teach the Text

Preben Vang

Big Idea: Christian worship must happen in an atmosphere of humility and self-giving. Self-promoting pride desecrates Christ and brings devastation to his community. Understanding the Text The danger of an amalgamation between pagan and Christian worship loomed in the Corinthian setting. After pointing out how clothing (veiling) blurred what should have been a clear distinction between pagan ...

463. Message to Pergamum

Revelation 2:12-17

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J. Scott Duvall

... true to the person and character of Jesus, he is identified as Jesus’s “faithful witness,” the same title used of Jesus himself in 1:5 (see also 3:14). The refusal of the church to “renounce” their faith in Jesus presupposes an atmosphere of persecution. 2:14–15 some among you . . . hold to the teaching of Balaam, . . . Likewise, . . . the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Obedience in one area does not cover for or excuse disobedience in other areas. Jesus rebukes this church for tolerating the ...

464. God on His Throne as the Sovereign Creator

Revelation 4:1-11

Teach the Text

J. Scott Duvall

... enter heaven for another prophetic vision (on “show,” see also 1:1; 17:1; 21:9, 10; 22:1, 6; see also 22:8). Whereas “heaven” usually occurs in the plural in the New Testament, reflecting the Jewish idea of various levels of heaven (e.g., the atmosphere, the place of the stars, and the presence of God or paradise; see 2 Cor. 12:2),1in Revelation the term always occurs in the singular as John focuses on heaven as the dwelling place of God (the lone exception being 12:12, which is probably influenced ...

465. The Coming Judgment Calls for the Saints to Leave Babylon

Revelation 18:1-24

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J. Scott Duvall

... chapter 18 (cf. earlier allusions in 14:8; 16:19; 17:16), especially as it relates to her economic downfall. Babylon’s coming judgment means that believers must leave the city lest they share in the punishment she will soon receive (18:1–8). The funeral atmosphere takes center stage in 18:9–19, where we hear laments from three groups: kings, merchants, and mariners. Finally, in 18:20–19:5, Babylon’s doom is complete, and in contrast to the mourners, God’s people are called to rejoice that he has ...

466. Preparations for Worship (Part 2)

Num 8:1-26

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... weather conditions are right, a massive storm can move across the surface of the earth, eating up warm, moist air around it. Sometimes, such a storm system can actually be felt and sensed before it can be seen. It reaches out ahead of itself and changes the atmosphere in its path. This is what creates that “silence before the storm” effect. If you are fortunate, you read the signs and make it inside before the skies open up and the storm comes. Psalm 29 describes the coming of the Lord to meet with his ...

467. Balaam’s Final Prophecies: The Star and the Scepter

Num 24:15-25

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... : Adolf von Harnack was an enemy of Christian orthodoxy in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, though he did not start out that way. Harnack’s father, Theodosius, taught pastoral theology in Livonia, so young Adolf grew up in an atmosphere heavy with religious reflection and was taught precious truths about God and Christ. Eventually he became a professor of church history and developed a reputation as a historian of first rank, tracing the development of Christian dogma throughout the ages ...

468. Barren No More

1 Sam 1:1-20–2:11

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... The greater the request, the more ambiguous the response. “Mom, can I get a new bike?” “Mmm, we’ll see.” Such an answer occupied that mysterious no-man’s-land between wish and fulfillment children know so well. This is a region where the atmosphere is a mixture of hope and disappointment—only as much hope as is needed to keep our wildest dreams at bay, and not enough disappointment to kill them altogether.9 The prayers of the persecuted are effective. True Story: The Story of Ruby Bridges, by ...

469. The Rise of Media, Persia, and Greece

Daniel 8:15-27

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Ronald W. Pierce

... we do not need to understand computer programming, memory storage, or internal processing in order to use our computers and mobile devices productively and ethically. Similarly, we do not need to comprehend how introducing particulates and biological molecules into the Earth’s atmosphere threatens the environment in order to ensure our children’s future. Likewise, we do not need to fully grasp the chemical process that links bad eating habits with a heart attack or stroke in order to eat well. Rather, a ...

470. The Creation of the World

Genesis 1:1-2:3

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... cyclical. The absence of the phrase “and there was evening, and there was morning—the ________ day,” after the seventh day indicates that God is not resting because he is exhausted but is desisting from his work of creation. It is not so much a date as it is an atmosphere. The seventh day, like man and woman (1:28), is blessed. If “blessed” in 1:28 is meant to confer the power to beget new life, might “blessed” in 2:3 mean the same?

471. Haman’s Plot to Annihilate the Jews

Esther 3:1-15

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... between their former homes and the Red Sea. In Joel 1:18, the cattle are said to be “wandering aimlessly” (naboku), without pasture, as the day of the Lord approaches. In these three cases, feelings of disorientation, bewilderment, and vulnerability describe the condition of the communities, and such is the atmosphere in Susa.

472. Psalm 100

Psalm 100:1-5

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

An invitation for all to praise God joyfully, Psalm 100 creates an atmosphere of thanksgiving (without concern about enemies, without seeking anything from God) in which essentially every word declares God’s marvelous goodness or urges God’s people to exhibit grateful hearts to their Maker and shepherd. Psalm 100 reflects the thoughts of numerous other psalms: shouting joyfully to God (98:4); ...

473. Lord of the Sabbath

Luke 6:1-11

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... than David, for as “the Son of Man,” he is “Lord of the Sabbath.” So Jesus authorizes the behavior of his disciples in this situation, and thus the first Sabbath controversy ends with Jesus making a bold statement about his person and authority. The atmosphere in the second incident (6:6–11) is tense, for the Pharisees are looking for evidence to charge Jesus with disobedience to the law. Jesus confronts the issue openly and calls the man with the shriveled hand to come forward, asking all who are ...

474. One Heaven of a Party

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... the air per day. A tree is also an air-filter, removing one-quarter pound of dust particles from the air everyday. And that is not all. An average tree supplies all the oxygen needed by ten people in one year and removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.[3] A tree demonstrates the generous cycle of life. It receives life and gives back life. Is it any wonder that the psalmist compares those who follow the laws of God as “trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season” (Psalm ...

475. Love without Limits

Acts 11:1-18

Sermon

Charley Reeb

... told them he had come to challenge their privileged theology by erasing any lines of distinctions. How did they respond? These hometown friends of Jesus drove him out of the synagogue and attempted to throw him off a cliff! This atmosphere of anger toward “outsiders” still exists today. Everyone has their “Gentiles”! Everyone discriminates against and draws lines of self-righteous distinction. You would think, by now, our world should have moved passed such archaic and cruel ways of thinking. But ...

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